Planning commission approves site plan for container storage at 2994 Barber Road; conditional-use permit goes to council with conditions

The Norton Planning Commission approved the final site plan for an unconventional container-based storage facility at 2994 Barber Road (PC application SPR 8 20 25) and forwarded the conditional-use permit portion to Norton City Council for the council’s action.

Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the site-plan approval; the conditional-use permit is subject to council review, where the council may affirm, amend or deny the commission’s recommendation. The commission added conditions during its approval: a concrete apron at the Barber Road entrance and permitting up to 15 outdoor storage spaces (the commission described this as a capped number of spaces to limit outdoor vehicle/large-equipment storage). The motion also included a covenant to document these conditions.

Applicant Sean Bauscher, who said he owns TRK Fabrication and formerly Condor Welding, described a business model aimed at business-to-business storage — in particular, renting secure containers to landscapers who store equipment that cannot be kept at conventional public storage because of fuel and flammable materials. Bauscher said the facility would place containers on concrete pads, anchor them, paint them a uniform neutral color and provide a leasing office with basic plumbing and a restroom. Engineer Braden (Lewis Land Professionals) said asphalt pavement is proposed for drive aisles and that the applicant would provide paved driveways and loading areas as shown on the site plan.

Commissioners and staff discussed wetlands, setbacks and the practical limits to disturbance on the rear of the parcel; the applicant said wetland setbacks limit placement and that much storage would be toward the back of the lot. Staff and commissioners also addressed security and operations: the applicant said a passcode or key system is planned, and fencing will be installed. The commission discussed lighting and asked that exterior lighting be directed away from neighboring properties.

Planning staff noted the conditional-use permit category (mini-storage) does not perfectly match the proposed container-based use, but that the conditional-use review is the closest applicable category. The planning administrator referenced specific conditional-use code section 12.98.02 during the discussion and said mini-storage is generally permitted in I-1 and I-2 zones with conditions.

The commission’s site-plan approval will allow the applicant to proceed with permitting; the conditional-use permit will be read at an upcoming Norton City Council meeting for the council’s action (affirm, amend or deny). Staff told the applicant the council clerk will notify him about the council schedule; no final council action has yet occurred.